The Egyptian Embassy in Netherlands has received three Late Period artifacts that were illegally smuggled out of the country including a Ushabti figurine, a part of a painted wooden coffin, and a mummy’s head. Investigations confirmed that these artifacts were taken from Egypt through illegal excavations not from any museum, storages, or archaeological sites.
This recovery is part of the Egyptian government’s ongoing efforts to reclaim cultural heritage smuggled abroad. The successful handover highlights the significant collaboration between Egypt and the Netherlands, with strong support from Netherlands authorities. The retrieval also underscores the roles played by Egypt’s Ministries of Tourism and Antiquities, Foreign Affairs, and the office of the Public Prosecutor in the preservation and recovery of Egyptian antiquities.
Dr. Mohamed Ismail Khaled, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, stated that these artifacts were found in an antique shop in the Netherlands. Following joint investigations by the Netherlands and Egyptian authorities, the items were returned antiquities.
Shaaban Abdel Gawad, General Director of the Antiquities Repatriation Department said that the artifacts include a blue ceramic Ushabti figurine bearing the titles of the deceased, a part of a wooden coffin adorned with carvings of the goddess Isis, and a mummy’s head still bearing remnants of teeth and hair.
